venice cup final - session 6

Germany v USA 1

by Mark Horton

Going in to the last session of the final Germany needed a set of deals that gave them the opportunity to play for swings. They also had to make sure they eliminated all the mistakes that had littered their play in the final so far.

After a dull as ditchwater deal – just the sort the American team was hoping to see – Germany got the first of several chances:

Board 18. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ A 3 ♥ 10 8 2 ♦ A 10 6 ♣ A J 10 7 2
♠ K Q 9 7 5 4 2 ♥ J 4 ♦ K Q ♣ K 3		♠ J 10 ♥ 9 3 ♦ J 5 4 3 2 ♣ Q 8 6 4
	♠ 8 6 ♥ A K Q 7 6 5 ♦ 9 8 7 ♣ 9 5

West	North	East	South
von Arnim	Stansby	Auken	Rosenberg
		2NT*	Pass
3♦	All Pass

2NT promised 5-5 in the minors. 4-9 points and, when South was unwilling to protect, the Germans had stolen the pot.

West	North	East	South
Meyers	Schraverus	Levin	Alberti
		Pass	2♦*
2♠	Dble*	Pass	3♥
3♠	All Pass

2♦ Multi
Dble Pass if you have spades

More than 50 points behind and with only 15 deals left, it is curious that the German pair did not attempt a game on this deal.

If you think it is reasonable to include a suit as strong as ♥AKQ765 in your multi then perhaps South should simply bid 4♥ over North’s double. On the other hand North should certainly have gone on to 4♥.

3♠ went one down, -50 and, instead of gaining points, Germany had lost another 2 IMPs.

In many ways this deal summed up the way the final had gone – Germany failing to take any of the numerous chances that inevitably occur in any match, whilst the Americans consistently outbid and outplayed their opponents as well as taking full advantage of every mistake.

They had done this throughout the match and the pattern continued during the set as USA 1 added another 49 IMPs to their total over the next 11 deals.

Rather than show any of those error filled boards I’ll end this short report by presenting the last deal of the match:

Board 31. Dealer South. N/S Vul.
	♠ K 10 ♥ 8 6 3 2 ♦ A K 9 4 ♣ J 10 5
♠ A 9 5 ♥ K Q 5 4 ♦ J 5 ♣ K 8 3 2		♠ Q J 8 4 ♥ A J 9 7 ♦ 8 3 2 ♣ 6 4
	♠ 7 6 3 2 ♥ 10 ♦ Q 10 7 6 ♣ A Q 9 7

West	North	East	South
von Arnim	Stansby	Auken	Rosenberg
1♣*	Pass	2♥*	Pass
2♠*	Pass	3NT*	Pass
4♣	Pass	4♥	Pass
4♠	Pass	6♣	All Pass

2♥ 5+,4+ minors
2♠ Relay
3NT 5♣+4+ no singleton

West	North	East	South
Meyers	Schraverus	Levin	Alberti
1♥	Pass	1NT*	Pass
2♣	Pass	2♠*	Pass
3♠	Pass	4♥	All Pass

When East bid 2♠ to say she really liked clubs, West moved on with 3♠. If this had been anything other than the last board I’m sure Jill Meyers would have gone on over 4♥, but she knew her team had won – and the champagne might be getting warm!